I've seen some CAIs with a fairly long intake tube, and others with short ones?

What's the difference?

 

One is called a CAI, a cold air intake, it takes air from outside the engine bay, usually down towards the front bumper where the stock resonators usually is it, the other is a short ram intake, it forces air in at a higher speed hence the "ram" in it's name.

 

CAI (longer one) which sucks air from outside the engine bay (by the bumper) a little better for the engine, because it doesn't suck in hot air and add more power. more expense too.
Ram aire intake (shorter one) sucks hot air of the engine, and add a little less power to the engine compared to the one above, and is cheaper thant he one above.

Its that simple.


[Modified by sshaikh01, 5:48 AM 5/6/2002]

 

Short ram does not suck in hot air. True, the air in the engine bay is hotter than the ambient air temperature, but once the car gets moving, the temperature differences are negligible and the hp differences will not be noticeable.

A well designed CAI makes hp through a combination of a freer flowing filter, somewhat cooler air, and the inherent resonant characteristics of the intake pipe. Resonance is kinda hard to explain, but at certain vibration frequencies (depending on engine speed, etc), this helps make more hp. Think of why some buildings will withstand an 8.1 earthquake and not a 3.4 earthquake.

 

go long...........

 

Any intake is ok. After all, an intake is just an intake. You can either get a CAI, the short ram (provided that you have some sort of heat shield, the stock box with a K&N drop in, or a Comptech Icebox. Any of these will be better than the stock paper filter. Remember though, we're only talking about a few little horsies.

 

I say go to home depot and make one out of PVC


[Modified by On Point EK, 10:05 AM 5/6/2002]

 

ram air does suck in engine's hot air.
cold air sucks in the air the outside the car, which is cooler than the engine.

 

Take a digital thermometer with temperature memory (Radio Shack should have some). Put it in the engine bay where a filter would be, and then put in the bumper. Temperature difference isn't that much, and you will not feel the hp difference. Yes, the air in the engine bay is significantly higher at a stop. But once the car is moving, the temperature difference is insignificant.

Either way, I recommend a CAI...

 

I've seen a lot of hybrids dyno'd (mine included) and usually a cold air intake will make excellent midrange power and some top end power, but with cars that are using more than just I/H/E, the short ram seems to make more power on the top end, which is what I strive for. Although you may not gain as much midrange as a long tube intake, you get more top end. It just depends on what kind of driving you'll be doing. I do like the midrange power CAI's make, but I'd rather have the top end pull of a shorty intake. It's your money, your choice.

 

Above post=crap, someone needs to use some toilet paper and wipe off the thread.


I think VTEC might have a point that CAI whp are based on a dyno and when compared to a short ram in take it doesnt take in the fact that not alot of air is moving in the engine like when your moving at a decent speed.

 

A short ram intake gives your more top end power but not as much mid and low end. A CAI gives your more low and mid end power but not as much top end.

 

Get the comtech Icebox and short ram it gives you the throtle response you want from the short ram and the cold air from the CAI best of booth world and no way to hydrolock

 

Does not really matter much !! what you like best !! just make shoure 2 close of the filter from hot air from engine !! but AEM is the only one i have seen actaully giv any power !! and mostly midrange !! where you need it !!

 

AEM or not AEM if its the longh tube one it does the same. Just cuz the tubbing is blue and has a white sticker on it doesn't mean it gives more HP.

 

And where have you seen this make more power? Was the same car dynoed with another intake?

I've had over 150 dyno runs done on two Civics I've worked on, and the Iceman actually made more than the AEM, with no losses. The AEM made less, had some losses below 3000rpm, and did not really make noticeable power until after 6000rpm. The Iceman made 6hp at 4400rpm on a 5G Civic...